Rachel NORMAN
racheL NORMAN – Curriculum Vitae
1. Family Name: NORMAN
2. First Names: Rachel, Frances
3. Date and place of Birth: 1972, Singapore
4. Nationality: British
5. Civil Status: Married
6. Education:
Institution
/ Cranfield UniversityDate of Graduation: / 2014
Degree(s) or Diploma(s) Obtained / PhD: Thesis title - “Monitoring Global Water and Sanitation”
Institution
/ University of PlymouthDate of Graduation: / 1996
Degree(s) or Diploma(s) Obtained / BSc (Hons) Geography & Mathematics
7. Language Skills (Mark 1 to 5 for Competence):
Language
/ Reading / Speaking / WritingEnglish (MT) / 5 / 5 / 5
French / 1 / 1 / 1
1= poor; 2=fair; 3=good; 4=very good; 5=excellent
8. Membership of Professional Bodies:
None
9. Other training and skills:
Contract Management; Negotiations Training; Managing Multiple Projects and Deadlines; Monitoring and Evaluation (IMA International, UK, August 2002); Deaf Awareness (University of Plymouth, 2000); Security and Communications (REDR, UK, September 2000); EC Procedures and Procurement (EC, Brussels, 1997); MS Office (Excel/Word/Project), PowerPoint, Mindjet; Introduction to TEFL (University of Plymouth, 1995).
Tutorials & courses attended - Doctoral Training Centre, Cranfield University:
How to succeed in the global research community; Research methods in the literature review; Speed reading; Ref-works; Research methods in the sciences; Research methods in the social sciences; Social science for environmental management; Ethics in research; Collaborative research; Principles of project risk assessment; Choosing the right statistics; Linear regression and correlation coefficients; Process of writing; Technical writing skills workshop; Presentation workshop
10. Present Position:
Independent Consultant
SWA Global Monitoring Task Team member
11. Years of professional experience:
17 (Seventeen)
12. Key qualifications and relevant experience:
Ø Qualitative and quantitative research.
Ø Strategic planning: drafting of a 5-year Strategic Plan; contribution to development of 10-year Strategic Plan; Regular contribution to annual strategic planning.
Ø Monitoring and Evaluation in the areas of rural development, post conflict development, water and sanitation, community sensitisation; capacity building and institutional reform.
Ø Quality Assurance & Corporate Services with competence in:
o Systems re-engineering of Corporate Procedures (IT, Finance, Business Development; Project Management; Governance; Database Management; Human Resource; Conditions of Service);
o Corporate Risk Management;
o Internal Auditing.
Ø Experienced Operations Manager leading teams of project coordinators responsible for the delivery of technical back-up services, team mobilisation, administrative and logistical support, technical and financial monitoring and evaluation of service contracts against log frame targets.
Ø Business Development Manager with experience in the preparation of development project proposals for private clients, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors in Africa, Middle East, Asia, Pacific and Caribbean regions.
Ø Framework Contract Manager with experience of consortium coordination, CV evaluation and scoring, tender preparation, team mobilisation, quality assurance and financial monitoring.
Ø Competent and experienced project manager; familiar with “best practice” monitoring procedures for the start-up, implementation and close-down of contracted services.
Ø Awareness of a variety of international donors (AfDB, AsDB, DFID, EC, JICA, WB, UN, USAID).
Ø Network of public, private, and civil society organisations across multiple sectors.
13. Contracts as an independent consultant (October 2010 to present):
Year / Position and description2014 – current / Researcher/writer for non-governmental coalition
Policy and strategy, review and synthesis of fossil fuel subsidies and reform, the link to climate change and the opportunity of climate finance – EU focus.
2013 / Researcher/writer for public sector
Document review and synthesis of global framework – WASH related.
2012 / Strategic planning for a non-governmental organisation
Drafting a five-year business plan for a newly emerging company – WASH focus.
2012 / Researcher/writer for private sector company
Provide proposal text on appropriate mechanisms for dissemination of M&E findings.
2011 / Researcher/writer co-author for public sector client
Client portfolio review on improving access to water and sanitation in urban areas.
2011 / Researcher/writer co-author (WASHTech)
Water and sanitation technologies in Africa.
2011 / Peer review – pro bono for public sector
Review and edit guideline.
2010/ 2011 / Project management advisory support services for private client
Provision of support to contract management, documentation review and audit queries.
14. Specific Experience in Non-Industrialised Countries
Country / Date / Name and brief description of the projectUganda / May & October 2011 & May 2013
(8 weeks)
July – August 2009
(7 weeks) / PhD Research fieldwork (self-funded)
Qualitative and quantitative research, engaging with 30+ stakeholders across public, private, civil society organisations working within the water and sanitation sector.
Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Programme (EC funded)
Interim Regional Coordinator (Karamoja and Teso) – Technical assistant
Technical monitoring of NUREP interventions, undertaken by implementing partners, to ensure timely and quality delivery of agreed outputs and outcomes according to the (grant) contracts and in-line with agreed procedures. Provision of constructive feedback to implementing partners in consultation with the District Local Governments. To ensure timely and quality technical and financial reporting in line with 9th EDF procedures. To ensure broad participation in and dissemination of programme activities as well as the Office of the Prime Minister and EU visibility in the Karamoja and Teso regions.
Programme Fund: €20M of which grants approx. €10M.
Kenya / Jan & May & Nov 2011 & April 2013
(8 weeks) / PhD Research fieldwork (self-funded)
Qualitative and quantitative research, engaging with 30+ stakeholders across public, private, civil society organisations working within the water and sanitation sector.
Solomon Islands / February 2007
(2 weeks) / NAO PMU II (EC funded)
Monitoring and Evaluation Support to PMU – Technical assistant
Preparation of a reference guide / toolkit covering material, systems and procedures developed for and in use by the PMU.
Preparation of a framework for the final report, including a review of activities and verification of outputs and impact.
Liberia / September 2005
(2 weeks) / Community Rehabilitation Component (EC funded)
Interim Team Leader
Completion of the Inception Report which included facilitating a stakeholder working group session to reach a consensus of agreement on the proposed amendments to the logical framework.
Sierra Leone / May to November 2004
(3 weeks /
2 weeks /
2 weeks /
1 week) / Community Development Initiative Pujehun (DFID funded)
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist – Technical assistant
Regular monitoring and evaluation inputs over the course of implementation period. Tasks included meeting with stakeholders; review and approval of staff structures; review and recommendations on systems and procedures (financial, technical and operational); review proposed and final project portfolio, monitor project implementation through literature review and field based verification.
Sierra Leone / April 2003 to
May 2004 / Community Reintegration Programme (DFID funded)
Operations Manager – Technical assistant
Operations Manager (OM) and decentralised Project Management Coordinator (PMC) for the DFID and GoJ funded CRP in Sierra Leone. The OM role and responsibilities included ensuring appropriate logistical support was provided across the programme area (spanning approximately 80% of the country), such as vehicle and IT support, compliance with procurement procedures, combined with providing significant support to NCDDR programme within the CRP.
Liberia / May 1998 – October 1999 / Reconstruction and Rehabilitation programme Geoscience, (EC funded)
Technical Assistant / Information Officer / Liaison Officer
Component management of the Monrovia and Rural Areas Water Supply Project (an emergency rehabilitation project), including the provision of technical assistance in the area of utility management and commercial development, providing on-site monitoring and evaluation of rural micro-projects (latrines and hand-dug wells), reviewing water supply operations (including trucking, meter installation, stock control, accounting and sales), supervising institutional reform and capacity building of the Liberia Water and Sewage Corporation. Information Officer for the EC Aid Co-ordination Office in Monrovia, including organization of project review missions, preparing concise descriptions of Commission-financed projects for distribution to Member States. Liaison Officer responsible for organizing and attending security and information meetings of the United Nations, international and local NGO’s, line ministries, government institutions.
15. Professional Experience Record
Date:
From (Month / Year):
to (Month / Year) :
/ November 2009September 2010
Location: / UK
Company: / Happold Consulting Ltd
Position: / Senior Bid Manager
Description: / Responsible for full bid cycle management including the development of Group marketing strategy, identification of opportunities for consultancy for the built environment, management of technical resources, preparation of commercial bids and quality assurance of both technical and financial submissions. Tasked with identifying and assembling proposed project teams, developing appropriate proposal methodologies and providing support across all ‘service offerings’, including Environment.
Member of the management team contributing to the development of the 10-year Strategic Plan.
Date:
From (Month / Year):
to (Month / Year) :
/ October 2001November 2009
Location: / Various:
Company: / Cardno Agrisystems Ltd
Position: / Various: see descriptions
Description:
September-November 2009 / Deputy Regional Business Development and Operations Coordinator
As part of the Regional Team tasked with looking at harmonisation, synergies, opportunities for leverage and improved systems and procedures to develop regional strategies resulting in enabled growth, special project tasks were assigned. For example: Coordination and monitoring of the re-branding exercise (legal entities registered in Washington, Brussels, Oxford, Nairobi, Melbourne and PNG); Support to development of a region-wide collaboration tool with functionalities of knowledge sharing, bid development, pipeline tracking; CV and project reference storage and associated supporting governance structure.
Description:
January- September 2009 / Quality Assurance Manager (& Corporate Services Manager), UK, Brisbane, Nairobi, Melbourne, Uganda.
Interim Regional Coordinator in Karamoja, Uganda - see section 14.
As Quality Assurance Manager, working with Business Unit Managers across the Group and other Practice Leaders across the Company, responsible for ensuring that the Company adopts, implements and monitors quality management systems and procedures that result in the effective and efficient management of the Company’s business. Particular emphasis given to mitigation of risks as defined within the Risk Management Register. Also responsible for the implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, which accompanies the company log-frame. As Corporate Services manager responsibilities included undertaking day-to-day supervision, of the Corporate Services Team. As a member of the Management Team the expert contributed to corporate strategic thinking, monitoring business performance and reported progress against the company log-frame.
Description:
Title from 1 April 2005 but responsibilities since May 2004 – January 2009. / Operations Manager (as of 1 April 2005)
UK (Afghanistan, Botswana, China, Gambia, Georgia, Kenya, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Uganda)
Operations Manager responsible for the management of the delivery of the company’s Projects portfolio with annual revenue of in the region of GBP2million increasing to GBP4million with the co-location (approx. £5.4M FY2008/09) and subsequent integration of former Emerging Markets Group London team. To ensure that the Company adopts, implements and monitors contract management systems and procedures that result in the effective and efficient management of the Company’s long term projects, with particular emphasis on logistical, administrative and technical support, delivery and monitoring of financial targets. As a Member of the Management Team, to contribute to corporate strategic thinking, monitor business performance and report progress against defined business and commercial targets. Undertake Technical Inputs where appropriate. Provide support to Business Development where possible as well as developing a non-traditional business portfolio.
Description:
April 2003 – May 2004
October 2001-May 2004 / Operations Manager, Community Reintegration Programme (Sierra Leone) – see section 14.
Project Management Coordinator/Operations Coordinator
UK (Swaziland / Sierra Leone / Liberia)
Undertake the effective and efficient management of the Company’s long-term projects, with particular emphasis on logistical and administrative support, technical delivery and financial monitoring.
To provide business development support for opportunities arising in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Date:
From (Month / Year):
to (Month / Year) :
/ May 2001September 2001
Location: / UK
Company: / NR International Ltd
Position: / Business Development / Framework Manager
Description: / Manager of the EC agricultural and rural development (Lot1) framework contract: involving consortium coordination, CV evaluation and scoring, tender preparation, team mobilisation, quality assurance and financial monitoring.
West Africa business development manager, including strategic planning, targeting of business opportunities, preparation of expressions of interest and pre-qualification documents, identification of project partners and team members, assisting with bidding strategy, proposal writing, client negotiation, team mobilisation and contract management.
Date:
From (Month / Year):
to (Month / Year):
/ October 2000May 2001 / October 1999
January 2000
Location: / UK
Company: /
University of Plymouth
Position: / Admin Assistant / Web Site Designer / Admin AssistantDescription: / Website development and co-ordination and assistant to the Director of School Experience Partnership. / Statistical analysis, reporting and occasional office management
Date:
From (Month / Year):
to (Month / Year) :
/ January 2000September 2000
Location: / UK
Company: /
Venus
Position: / ManageressDescription: / Management of a ladies fashion retail establishment, incorporating stock control, customer and supplier liaison, account and staff management, key holder.
Date:
From (Month / Year):
to (Month / Year) :
/ September 1997February 1998
Location: / Brussels
Company: /
European Commission
Position: / StagiaireDescription: / Assisting the Head of Unit in project identification, analytical work and the monitoring of on-going projects. Supervision of consultants engaged on the cartographical presentation of Western and Central African transport sector projects financed since 1990 and new projects being considered for financing between 1998 and 2003. Undertaking data research and statistical interpretation work. Reviewing progress of water supply and sanitation projects in Capo Verde, Ghana, and Liberia and undertaking a study of the Commission’s policies for this sector and commented on associated evaluation reports.
Date:
From (Month / Year):
to (Month / Year) :
/ June 1996September 1997
Location: / UK
Company: /
South West Water Services Ltd
Position: / Project CoordinationDescription: / Project co-ordination of a Revenue Protection Programme and six month trial survey with the Royal Mail. Training, performance monitoring of new staff in company procedure, policy and computer skills. Relief work with the Emergency Control Centre ensuring quick and effective response time to any concern or requirement of the public.
17. Additional Experience.